For many years dogs running at large and not properly restrained or kept on a lease, have become a major problem and resulted in injuries and death to other animals and humans. It is entirely the dog owners responsibility to ensure their dog is not loose and on a leash, and fenced in properly when not on a leash,

West Virginia Code 19-20-13 addresses dogs running at large and explains the libility of the owner should the dog inflict damage to a person or property of another while running at large. Any owner or keeper of any dog who permits such dog to run at large shall be liable.

West Virginia Code 19-20-20 states no person shall own, keep or harbor any dog known by him to be vicious, dangerous, or in the habit of biting or attacking other persons, whether or not such dog wears a tag or muzzle. Upon satisfactory proof before a circuit court or magistrate that such dog is vicious, dangerous, or in the habit of biting or attacking other persons or other dogs or animals, the judge may authorize the humane officer to cause such dog to be killed.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that 4.7 million people are the victims of a dog bite every year in the United States. Some communities have strick dog ordinances, however they are often hard to have enforced. Paden City for example has a very good dog ordinance. There have been several dog attacks in Paden City over the years and even with the ordinance on the books they are still occurring. Every registered dog is required to wear a valid registration tag. The failure to have a registration tag displayed on any dog is evidence that the dog is not registered and the dog is subject to be impounded, sold or destroyed. Any person who keeps or owns any dog, and fails, refuses, or neglects to register the dog, is guilty of a misdemeanor under a penalty that may be imposed by the county assessor as an officer of this state.

Any person who forges or alters any certificate or tag, or claims the tag to be valid when they know it is invalid, or permits any dog owned to wear fake or invalid tags shall also be under any penalties imposed by the county assessor. All dogs in the municipality are required to be vaccinated against rabies.

An at large dog is one off the premises of the owner and not under the control of the owner, the ownerás agent or a member of the immediate family either by leash, cord, chain or otherwise.

No person owning or having any dog or cat in his custody shall permit it to go at large to the injury or annoyance of others, and they are not permitted to be at large upon the streets or other public ways of the City. Such action is declared to be a nuisance and dangerous to the public health and safety.

Any person finding any dog and/or cat upon his property to his injury or annoyance may take the animal and remove it to any private or other animal shelter that will take possession of it. If no such shelter is available, he may hold the dog and/or cat in his own possession, and as soon as possible notify the Police Department of this custody, giving a description of the animal and the name of the owner if known. The duly appointed agent as soon as possible after receiving notice will dispatch an officer to appear at the premises and take possession of the dog and/or cat.

It is also unlawful for the owner or person in control or charge of any dog to permit the dog to defecate and to allow the feces to remain upon any public street, sidewalk, pathway, park, pedestrian way, or any public facility; on any school ground; or on any private property not owned or possessed by the dog owner or handler of such dog unless the person shall immediately and securely enclose all feces deposited by the dog in a bag, wrapper, or other container and dispose of it in a sanitary manner.

Any person violating this section is guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be punished: By a fine of not less than twenty dollars or more than fifty dollars for the first offense; or For the second and subsequent offenses occurring within one year of the first offense, a fine of not less than thirty dollars or more than one hundred dollars.

Recent acts of vicious dogs biting smaller dogs and humans, make the above ordinance necessary. While that is just a small portion of a well written ordinance, it does describe some of the penalties for violating the law. A âDangerous dogã according to city ordinance is a dog that, has, when unprovoked, bitten, attacked, endangered, or inflicted injury on a human being or another animal being on public or private property, or when unprovoked, has chased or approached a person upon the street, sidewalk, or any public grounds in a menacing fashion or apparent attitude of attack. âAt largeã means a dog that is not under restraint. âRestraintã means: Secured by a leash no more than 4 feet in length and capable of holding the animal and held by a person who is capable of controlling the animal physically. On private property inside a fence no less than six (6) feet in height, locked gates, no escape routes under fence, signs on property stating âBeware of Dog!ã and must be on a secured leash inside of fence so the dog cannot reach fence.

If a dog is inside a house or building, it must not be able to get to an open window or unsecured door. If the dog escapes any restraints, it will be considered at large and the owner will be responsible and face fines. These are just a few of owners responsibilities. For the protection of other people and their smaller pets it is necessary that these rules be enforced. Paden City has a very strong ordinance to protect individuals and their property from those who refuse to obey the ordinance. Local communities without dog ordinances should look at Paden Cityás, adopt one similar.

We recommend contacting the localPolice Department if you encounter a violation of the city ordinance. They are there along with the ordinance for your protection and to protect the public from any harm caused by dogs running at large.